The fight against junk food and sugary drinks continues in Mexico, in an attempt to stem the epidemic of obesity and related diseases, diabetes (in primis). Numerous states of the Mexican federation have introduced, in recent weeks, bans on the sale and administration of HFSS foods to minors (High in Fats, Sugar and Sodium) and sugary drinks. Drastic and urgent measures, also aimed at reducing the impact of Covid-19 on the health of populations.
Mexico, obesity and nutritional policies
Obesity and overweight in Mexico they affect, respectively, 34% and 73% of the population. According to OECD (2020) projections, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, Non-Communicable Diseases) related to overweight and obesity will reduce the life expectancy of Mexicans by more than 4 years in the next three decades. In addition to worsening its quality, with serious and chronic diseases that are also the cause of various forms of disability. And even more worrying is the growth in childhood obesity, which has doubled in twenty years (from 7,5% to 15%, between 1996 and 2016). (1)
The federal legislator Mexican is therefore committed to adopting cutting-edge nutrition policies, with the support of WHO and UNICEF among others:
- a fee on sugary drinks (soda tax) was introduced in 2014,
- the obligation to insert appropriate warnings, on the front of the labels, regarding excessive levels of calories, sugar, sodium, saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids (#EtiquetadoClaroYa!) was introduced in 2020.
Junk food and Covid emergency
Nutritional policies adopted so far, however, have proved insufficient to discourage the consumption of junk food and promote consumer information on the risks associated with unbalanced diets. Mexico remains the number one consumer in Latin America of ultra-processed foods, including sugary drinks (UNICEF, 2020). (2)
Complications serious and fatal Covid-19 infections - associated with comorbidities which occur among obese people - they have a marked prevalence, in Mexico as well as in the USA. (3) Several states of the federation are therefore activating emergency measures.
Protection of minors from junk food
The Mexican states of Oaxaca and Tabasco have already introduced - and those of Mexico City, Colima, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas are considering introducing - specific reforms to Ley de los Derechos de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes. With the aim of reducing the exposure of minors to junk food and sugary drinks (other than those based on milk). The new rules include more measures which include:
- bans on the sale, donation, distribution and administration of prepackaged sugary drinks, carbonated sugary drinks, sweets and foods with trans fatty acids or excessive sugar levels to minors under the age of 18,
- prohibition of consumption of the aforementioned foods in schools, as well as in educational centers and health centers,
- removal of vending machines in educational centers, public and private hospitals, clinics and health centers,
- Prohibition of advertising and other promotional forms of sugary drinks and junk food to minors. With prohibition to promote the aforementioned products within a radius of 300 meters from any educational, medical or hospital center. And an increase in the fees to be applied to the advertising of the aforementioned foods, + 25%, in the allowed spaces.
The weaknesses of the measures
The aforementioned measures, although commendable, they may not be enough to achieve the objectives pursued. The weak points to consider, in the humble opinion of the writer, are the following:
- lack of harmonization, at a territorial level but above all in identifying the foods to be subjected to restrictive measures. The nutritional profiles to distinguish HFSS products should at least be harmonized at the federal level, possibly in line with the WHO recommendations (World Health Organization, WHO),
- the limitation of opportunities for offers to minors does not exclude the possibility of buying junk food by adults. Which often, even in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC, Low-Middle Income Countries), they buy foods of low nutritional value simply because they are cheaper than fresh and healthy foods. This is in fact the double burden of malnutrition.
Short Notes
Nutritional policy, in Mexico as in any other country, they should be focused on supply. With measures suitable for:
- discourage the placing on the market of all HFSS foods, with special taxes and bans on all forms of advertising. In order to stimulate a widespread reformulation (ie modification of recipes) of foods dangerous to public health. By improving their nutritional profiles,
- introduce support measures for families with lower spending power, favoring their access to fresh and healthy food. Also through free distribution programs and incentives to the protagonists of agroecology, for the development of short, fair and sustainable supply chains. How recommended by FAO itself.
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) OECD (2019), The Heavy Burden of Obesity: The Economics of Prevention, OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/67450d67-en
(2) UNICEF Mexico. What are we waiting for? Child obesity in Mexico presents an urgency that demands immediate change. 4.3.20, https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-are-we-waiting-for-obesity-mexico
(3) Public Health England. Excess weight and COVID-19: insights from new evidence. 24.7.20, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excess-weight-and-covid-19-insights-from-new-evidence
(4) See example AlterBanc in Catalonia, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/alterbanc-agroecologia-e-spesa-sociale-in-catalogna
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
